Metroplex board members approved a $50,000 grant that the bus company will match to rebuild the station's outdated facade and make improvements to its parking lot, ticket area, landscape and signage, authority Chairman Ray Gillen said. The project boosts efforts to redevelop the area of the city near Schenectady County Community College, he said.

"It's one of first buildings you see as you come in from Glenville and 890," Gillen said.

Adirondack Trailways hired city-based architect firm Stracher, Roth and Gilmore to design the project this year with work to start in late 2012.

"Adirondack Trailways is proud to be partnering with the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority to enhance and improve our facility at 22 State St.," said Anne Noonan, the company's vice president for marketing and traffic. "Trailways has served Schenectady for many decades and as good community citizens, we are pleased to have this opportunity to improve our property in a way that will benefit both Schenectady and Trailways."

The bus station is located near a new 100,000-square-foot SCCC student housing complex, improvements to Erie Boulevard and other new construction, area officials said.

The Metroplex board also approved a $60,000 facade grant for the vacant 8,000-square-foot building at 308 Union St. The property is owned by Zachen Properties, which is renovating the structure into a new downtown venue. The Metroplex grant is designed to help with extensive exterior facade improvements.